THEY LIKE IKE: Sporting KC’s Opara named MLS’ top defender

NEW YORK – Sporting Kansas City’s Ike Opara Thursday was named the Major League Soccer defender of the year.

Opara, 28, enjoyed a breakout year, leading a KC defense that conceded a league-low 29 goals, the fewest allowed in a single MLS regular season since 2012.

Anchored by Opara’s stellar defensive play, SKC captured its fourth Lamar Hunt/U.S. Open Cup title, tied for the most of any MLS team in the tournament’s history.

With Opara in the lineup, Sporting recorded a 12-6-12 record, giving up 23 goals in his 30 games played, an average of 0.77 goals allowed per match. In games without Opara in the lineup, SKC compiled a 0-3-1 record and conceded six goals in four matches (1.5 goals allowed a game). Sporting also recorded all 11 of its shutouts with Opara in the starting lineup, with its 29 goals allowed eight fewer than the next closest team.

After missing much of the past two-plus seasons due to injury, Opara registered career highs during the past season in games played (30), games started (30) and minutes played (2,700). He also equaled a career high with three goals in regular season play, tied for the second most scores among defenders in MLS this season.

SKC has reached the postseason in each of Opara’s five seasons with the club, finishing 2017 ranked fifth in the Western Conference with 49 points (12-9-13). The club posted a 10-1-6 home record, with its 24-game unbeaten mark at Children’s Mercy Park from June 2016 to September 2017 ranking as the third-longest home unbeaten streak in MLS history.

The U.S. Open Cup victory was Opara’s third major trophy with Sporting, winning the 2013 MLS Cup in his first season with SKC, followed by the 2015 U.S. Open Cup title. Opara started all five matches in U.S. Open Cup play this season, helping Sporting to post shutouts in the first three games. Tthe 6-2 defender scored two goals in the tournament.

Taken by San Jose with the No. 3 overall selection in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, the Generation adidas signing was twice named Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year while at Wake Forest University.

The award was voted on by MLS club technical staff, media and MLS players. Below is a breakdown of the voting results: